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Vol. 49, Issue 260
Kenai Peninsula suffering moderate drought By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
It’s been a dry summer. National Weather Service meteorologist, Eddie Zingone, said as of data from Aug. 8, the Kenai Peninsula is experiencing a moderate drought, also known as a level one drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor — produced in partnership with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — measures droughts using five levels, level zero being no drought, but abnormally dry conditions and the fourth level being an exceptional drought. Right now, most of the Alaska’s rainfall is in western Alaska and in the interior, Zingone said. He said residents of the central peninsula shouldn’t expect major rainfall until maybe the middle of next week. “The rest of the week, through weekend doesn’t look like anything measurable,” Zingone said. Between June 1 and Aug. 12, Kenai has received 1.51 inches of rainfall — a nearly 40% decrease in the average rainfall for the area, which is 3.88 inches of rain. During the month of June, Kenai received 0.11 inches of rain. The average rainfall for the area in the month of June is 1.07 inches. In July, Kenai received 1.4 inches of rain, compared to an area average of 1.84 inches. “While still below average, July isn’t quite as dramatic as June,” Zingone said. Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 12, Zingone said there has been only trace amounts of rainfall, which means there was no measurable rainfall. In this period of time, there is an average of .97 inches of rainfall. The last measurable rainfall the area received was July 28, and the area has had 15 days with no rainfall.
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‘Step-down’ compact with UA signed By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
Gov. Mike Dunleavy and University of Alaska Board of Regents Chair John Davies signed an agreement Tu e s d a y afternoon that would reduce the university’s budget a total of $70 million over three years instead the $136 million in one year as originally proposed. The agreement was a result of negotiations between the governor’s administration and the Board of Regents, which ended in both sides agreeing to a number of commitments. On the university side, the Regents agreed to a number of cost-cutting and streamlining measures
such as the reduction of administrative overheads and increased focused on remote-access, or online, education. Dunleavy’s office agreed to support “budgeted amounts agreed upon,” and the Alaska Performance Scholarship and Alaska Education Grant programs, according to the text of the agreement. “A $70 million reduction, even over three years is a serious reduction. It will require careful review and streamlining of administrative structure, academic programs, and services to ensure that resources are focused on student access and achievement,” University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen said. “But by
restoring the Legislature’s appropriated funding for this fiscal year, and by spreading reductions out over the next two years, the required restructuring ca n b e d o n e m o re methodically, with less impact on students.” The governor does not have power to appropriate funds for the university, only the Legislature can do that. However, the governor can veto items where he sees fit. According to the agreement, the governor will support the university’s proposed budget so long as the Board of Regents maintain a commitment to cost reductions and revenue increases. The agreement states that the Regents will report to the governor’s
Mark Thiessen / Associated Press
University of Alaska Board of Regents chairman John Davies (left) and Gov. Mike Dunleavy sign an agreement Tuesday in Anchorage, that will spread $70 million in cuts to the university system over three years. That is a sharp reversal from the $135 million cut Dunleavy earlier proposed for this year.
office and the Legislature each year for three years in order to demonstrate the commitment to the
strategic goals and 11 enumerated priorities. See compact, Page A2
Early ed veto reversed By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
A construction crew excavates along the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai on June 4.
brian mazurek / peninsula clarion
Summer roadwork wrapping up By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
As the summer winds down and construction season with it, crews with the Alaska Department of Transportation are close to completing several road construction projects across the peninsula. The DOT, in partnership with QAP construction, is resurfacing all of Beaver Loop Road, from the Kenai Spur Highway to Bridge Access Road. Crews are also constructing new turn lanes as well as a separated pathway. Project work includes installing grading, drainage improvements, illumination, guardrail placement, signing and striping. From 6 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, Beaver Loop Road will be closed from Mile 1.4 to the intersection of Cone Avenue and Angler Drive. DOT Project Engineer
Jason Baxley said that the closure is primarily for safety reasons, as crews will be excavating between 8to 12-feet deep along the road while installing pipes and culverts. Baxley said that there will likely be at least two more closures during construction, but they won’t happen until after Labor Day. The project is ahead of schedule according to Baxley, but a second phase of construction will still be required next year. Through the rest of August, crews will be building the separated pedestrian pathway, replacing pipe and rebuilding a section of road between Beaver Loop and the Cone Avenue/ Angler Drive intersection. On the Kenai Spur Highway, crews from DOT and Wolverine Construction are building five lanes from Mile 5 to Mile 8 between Sports Lake Road and Swires Road. Crews are also
constructing a new pathway, improving drainage, extending slopes and installing new signage and striping. Currently, crews are working off the roadway from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and motorists should be aware of equipment and vehicles entering and exiting the roadway. There is also an alternate traffic pattern from Mile 6 to Mile 8. Construction is expected to last through the rest of the season, according to the Alaska Navigator website. Two major projects are taking place along the Sterling Highway, one that stretches from Sterling to Skilak Lake and another from southern Soldotna to Clam Gulch. From Sterling to Skilak Lake, crews are working between Mile 58 and Mile 63, Monday through Sunday, 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. Delays of up to 15 minutes should be expected for this area. Crews are also working on striping See roads, Page A3
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Tuesday that he would not veto funds for Head Start and pre-K programs from the Legislature currently under consideration by his office, a reversal from earlier this summer when cuts to those programs were included in the $444 million vetoed from the state budget. Dunleavy said that he intends to sign the bill sometime this week, and when he does, money for Head Start Grants, Early Childhood Grants, Parents as Teachers Grants and Best Beginning Grants will be included. At a press conference at an elementary school in Anchorage, Dunleavy said that he had vetoed the funds in the first place because the state was experiencing a financial crisis and that a conversation needed to be had about which programs Alaskans valued most. “We have a $1.6 billion dollar reduction,” the governor said. “We needed to have the conversation with Alaskans, what do they value? For years we’ve gone through this cycle of budgets and often times were saved by oil prices and production but I think most of us realize that now that that’s not going to be the case. So our approach was to try and reduce the budget but to try and get feedback from folks as to what programs they really value.” The governor said that his cuts were an attempt to close the $1.8 See veto, Page A3
Rose’s Pawn Shop to bring energy to concert series By Joey Klecka Peninsula Clarion
If the story behind the name of tonight’s showcase artist at the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series can sound a bit awkward, the music is sure to make up for it. Rose’s Pawn Shop, a quintet of musicians who hail from all corners of the country, will make their debut at Soldotna Creek Park with what band leader Paul Givant expects will be “highenergy” music. Givant said the story behind the band’s name can be traced back to the band’s early days, when they shuffled through several different guises. At one point, Givant was dating “Rose,” a female
vocalist who sung harmony with the group. “We started dating, which was probably a bad idea because it didn’t go well,” Givant said. “We had a disagreement one day and her response was to go down to the studio and pawn our gear. “It’s a crazy thing that happened, but it’s funny in retrospect.” That little act of revenge spurred Givant to answer back, giving rise to the name of the band, which has stuck around to the present day. And as far as what Rose thinks of the name change? Givant said there are no hard feelings. “I’ve seen her around sometimes, but it’s not like you go hanging out with your ex,” he said. Week 11 of the popular Wednesday night series opens at 6 p.m. with local musician Mike
Morgan, a regular on the Flats Bistro stage, and many Kenai and Soldotna music events, taking the stage first. Since its beginnings in the mid-2000s, Rose’s Pawn Shop has slowly risen to fame with a repertoire of Americana musical styles, most notably bluegrass, folk and rock. Givant grew up around the Los Angeles area, but said his bandmates hail from all areas of the country, including Maine, Florida, New York and Texas. Givant stars on guitar and vocals, and is joined by Stephen Andrews on upright bass, Vito Gutilla on fiddle, Kyle LaLone on guitar and Andy Robbins on drums. Members range in age from their late 20s to their late 40s, Givant said, giving a See music, Page A3